Chapter 148 (1/2)

ve Speed POV>

The eyes of the rat who emitted lightning were dazzling.

They’re filled with aggressiveness, but I could still find the color of reason within them.

There’s some nervousness within them, but I couldn’t find stiffness on her movements.

As if she finally strained her voice out, the frightened girl muttered.

[———–Pikachu.]

(……What the f*ck….)

While feeling my eyelids twitching from the pain, I shifted my line of sight.

Those explosive electric shocks didn’t affect the rat in front of me.

I also couldn’t hear the sound of thunder anywhere.

That means—- those weren’t naturally occuring lightning.

What is the real identity of this electricity?

A Magic Technique?

An Incantation?

—-It’s different.

I immediately tugged on the thread that seemed to be the truth.

The ability of this rat with the power of lightning in her hand.

(I see, these people are—-)

I heard about them from Touka.

The people who were summoned by the goddess to defeat the Root of all Evil.

(Pokemon Trainers from Another World huh…)

She held out the tip of her claws towards my throat.

I began raising a howl that couldn’t be heard.

A soundless roar that inspires my body to move.

I forcibly moved my numb body to take some distance.

Lightning began blooming around the surroundings of the rat.

(Beyond a certain range, that lightning doesn’t look like it’s beautiful at all…)

The range in which she could exert this intense numbness is fixed.

Its range also shouldn’t be infinite.

Running my predictions within my mind, I leapt away.

(With this, I should be out of her range, right……!?)

[Pika, pika!? Pika, pipika pikapi… pi piika pika pi pika…!? ——Chi, Pikapi!]

Impatience on her face, the lightning rat began running towards me.

However, the rat managed to blur her impatience from her attack as she increased her speed.

(Nnghh!? This speed!?)

I never experienced fighting anyone with this speed even back in the Blood Colosseum.

The distance I’ve opened up was quickly shortened in the blink of an eye.

The rat shot forward with her claws.

Skillfully handling my sword with both of my hands, I brush away the incoming storm of scratches.

I couldn’t move around from where I stood because of these lightning fast quick attacks.

However…

(If I couldn’t overtake you in speed——)

I will just predict their next move and quickly intercept it.

Anticipating the opponent’s movements.

The experience I’ve gained as a warrior…

My sharply observing eyes and a high speed in dealing with the situation…

Making judgements in an instant…

And the instincts of a beast.

With these four, I could make such a thing possible.

The quick attack of this lightning rat is quite fierce.

Nay, her strong point isn’t just limited to her speed.

Her battle aptitude itself is outstanding.

Although she was still quite around the edges, her techniques were quite high.

Is this the combination of roughness and reason?

I can’t see any kind of style in her movements.

You could even describe it as a relaxed style that’s quite suitable with this girl’s personality.

“You fought well for a rat.”

If we weren’t in this kind of place, I would have told her such praise.

Moreover, it’s a bit scary since it appears that she’s still growing.

If she were to become a Blood Champion, she would be able to rise to the top in the blink of an eye.

[Pikappii……! Pi piikakapikapiipikapii!? Pikkkkaaaa……!? Pika—- Pipikapikapi! Pika…. Chu!]

The rat continued her incessant onslaught.

Even though she’s rambling like that, not like I could understand her, she doesn’t look like she’s showing any composure.

I could only see frustration from her face.

(……Is she frustrated that she didn’t manage to win with that attack style that her trainer taught her?)

The rat was blaming herself.

The cause of why she still couldn’t defeat me isn’t the command that her trainer taught her.

She believes that it’s because of her own weakness.

However, the rat didn’t give up.

On the contrary, the accuracy of her attacks increased as time passed.

(Her combat ability is still growing even in the middle of the fight huh……)

Then, even I can’t act composed in this battle.

Within the range of these lightning attacks, I could only defend.

Even if I run out of her range, she will be able to shorten our distance in an instant.

For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to run away from this battle.

Since her first attack, the girl has been attacking me in a really fast speed.

I don’t even have a moment to take a breath.

(Guh……! If I could just survive until I’m able to speak……!)

Splash!

A sound rang out.

[———–Ngh!]

It was from a direction I hadn’t expected.

My gaze reflexively turned towards the sound.

It’s— not a monster.

It’s the sound of that frightened girl who is now kneeling on the mud.

She must have been trying to assist this Pikachu.

However, it seems that she lost strength on her knees and she fell down on the ground.

[Piiiiika.]

(Sh*t—)

Even if it’s in just an instant, my attention was turned towards the frightened girl.

An opening appeared at that time.

An opening that my opponent would surely not overlook.

The eyes of the lightning rat.

Since she came here, this was the calmest time that she had shown.

The moment when you victory was about to be decided—- is the moment when you must maximize your concentration.

The person who could be calm in that situation— is the stronger one.

(Not good! I must avoid it—–)

[———–Wait for a moment, Pikachu.]

Stop

Her claws stopped before they had stabbed my throat.

[……Pikapi, pikachu.]

The lightning rat— Pikachu jumped away.

She then stood in front of the man that had just arrived.

It’s as if she’s acting as his shield.

I began observing their appearance again.

The Pikachu has a coat of yellow fur surrounding its body.

She has red dots on her cheeks that I assume is where the lightning comes from.

If that Pikachu were to be a demi-human, she would practically be naked right now.

Isn’t she ashamed of running around like that buck naked?

Is that the reason why she’s movements were difficult to grasp?

……I should consider fighting without wearing anything some time.

The pokemon trainer had a somewhat amusing clothing he’s wearing.

If I’m not mistaken, the clothing with that appearance should be called a “miko uniform”, right?

Just like that katana, I remembered that it also came from a different world.

Although he looks like a pervert, it still gives a prim and proper impression.

Or perhaps, the reason for me having that kind of impression was because of his appearance and bearing.

There’s a long sword hanging beside his waist.

(……That man in miko uniform is her pokemon trainer huh.)

Taking some distance, I began lowering my posture and stood ready.

(Nevertheless…)

I felt quite strange.

It was only a few moments before her victory would be decided.

However, Pikachu readily pulled away her claws.

Even when she pulled away, I couldn’t feel any frustration from her.

[It appears that you’re safe, Kashima-san.]

[Yes… Well, it was quite a close call.]

Pikachu bared her claws again.

Her eyes fixated on me, she began rumbling nonsense again.

[Pikapi… Pipikapi, pikachu?]

[That one’s not a rare pokemon.]

[Pikapi?]

[The color of its fur is different from the pokemons we’ve fought thus far.]

[A persian huh.]

[A liepard, rather.]

[?]

[……?]

[?]

[……A liepard?]

[…Pipikapi?]

Without answering, the pokemon trainer slightly smiled.

She looks like a fool, talking with a rat. Could she even understand it?

After regaining back his calm expression, the pokemon trainer looked towards me.

[The difference between them and the pokemon was that they held high intelligence. The disposition of their intelligence was different from the pokemon we’ve fought until now. Even the intentions behind its eyes and the behaviour in which it stands, it seems to be closer to a human.]

Pikachu began shaking off the water on its dripping wet body, just like a dog.

[Pika——- Pipikapi???]

[That means it should be possible for us to have direct communication with it.]

[Pikkaaaa…… Pika? Pipikapiipipikapi?]